Whether you’re into true crime, biographies, or deep dives into fascinating people, places, or things that you didn’t even know existed, there’s probably a documentary or series about it. HBO Max may be more known for its first-class scripted series—current chart toppers include Euphoria, Hacks, and Rooster—but it also has a cavernous library of great docs that you can swipe through for days.
If you’re looking for something real and off-script to watch this weekend (or beyond), I’ve pulled together a few suggestions for U.S. subscribers that you might like, including the surprise return of a Texas murder mystery series with a new revealing episode, a new season of an Emmy-winning reality docuseries, and a fun look at some chaotic stories behind your favorite video and board games.
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The Yogurt Shop Murders
A surprise new episode delivers answers
For those who were enthralled with Margaret Brown’s thrilling HBO docuseries The Yogurt Shop Murders, which aired on the network last August, today is a big day—a new surprise episode, “The End of Wondering,” arrived today, bringing closure to one of the most compelling true-crime stories of the past year.
The original four-part series from A24 and Fruit Tree (with Emma Stone among the producers) was an intense revisiting of the 1991 murders of four girls, Amy Ayers, Sarah Harbison, Jennifer Harbison, and Eliza Thomas, at a frozen yogurt shop in Austin, Texas. The 34-year-old cold case tormented the community, and despite several men being accused, tried, convicted, and exonerated (one is dead), the case has still remained open. Until now.
Three weeks after the last episode of The Yogurt Shop Murders aired on August 24, 2025, Austin PD identified the real killer using DNA evidence. The new episode brings back many of the same players, including the lead investigators, DNA experts, the families of each of the murdered girls, and family members of some of the falsely accused, to participate. If you haven’t watched the first four episodes, I highly recommend starting from the beginning of this incredible saga.
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Deadliest Catch (Season 22)
The Bering Sea fleet heads into new, frigid waters
It’s hard to believe that this soap opera on the high seas has been running for 22 seasons. But then again, the reality juggernaut has 63 Emmy nominations and 16 wins, so maybe it’s not so far-fetched. Deadliest Catch has just set sail on its 22nd season this month, as its grizzled cast of Bering Sea crab fishermen continue to risk their lives, contending with freezing temperatures, rogue waves, delay machinery, and sleep deprivation to haul in as much lucrative King Crab as they can before the season ends.
With 21 seasons to dig into, you could start at the beginning and get to know all the iconic vessels, captains, and crew—from Sig Hansen and the Northwestern to the Time Bandit and the Wizard—as they compete each season to bring in the biggest haul, help each other through losses, personal and professional, and survive life in Alaska.
QuizThe most iconic HBO shows of all time
Trivia challenge
From Westeros to the wire — how well do you really know HBO’s greatest television masterpieces?
DramaCharactersCreatorsPremieresClassics
Which HBO series, often credited with launching the era of prestige television, premiered in 1999 and followed a New Jersey mob boss in therapy?
Correct! The Sopranos premiered on January 10, 1999 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series ever made. Created by David Chase, it redefined what TV drama could be and paved the way for the golden age of prestige television.
Not quite — the answer is The Sopranos. Created by David Chase and premiering in 1999, the show followed Tony Soprano as he balanced family life with running a criminal empire, all while attending therapy sessions with Dr. Melfi. It’s frequently cited as the catalyst for prestige TV.
In Game of Thrones, which character famously declared ‘When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die’?
Correct! Cersei Lannister delivered this chilling line to Ned Stark in Season 1, and it became one of the most quoted lines in the entire series. It perfectly encapsulated the ruthless political world of Westeros and foreshadowed much of the bloodshed to come.
Not quite — it was Cersei Lannister who spoke those iconic words. She said it directly to Ned Stark in Season 1 as a warning, and it turned out to be a prophecy of sorts. The line became one of the defining quotes of the entire Game of Thrones saga.
The Wire, HBO’s critically acclaimed crime drama set in Baltimore, was created by which former journalist and police reporter?
Correct! David Simon worked as a crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun for years before creating The Wire, which drew heavily on his real-world experiences. His journalistic background gave the show an unmatched authenticity in depicting systemic failures in American cities.
The correct answer is David Simon. A former crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun, Simon used his deep knowledge of Baltimore’s streets, institutions, and politics to craft one of the most realistic and layered portrayals of urban America ever put on screen.
Which HBO anthology series, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, captivated audiences with its philosophical first season set in Louisiana in 2014?
Correct! True Detective Season 1, created by Nic Pizzolatto, premiered in January 2014 and became a cultural phenomenon almost overnight. McConaughey’s portrayal of the nihilistic Detective Rust Cohle sparked countless philosophical debates and think-pieces.
The answer is True Detective. Its debut season in 2014 starred Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle and Woody Harrelson as Marty Hart, two detectives investigating a series of ritualistic murders over seventeen years. The show’s dark atmosphere and philosophical monologues made it an instant classic.
In The Sopranos, what is the name of the psychiatrist Tony Soprano regularly visits throughout the series?
Correct! Dr. Jennifer Melfi, played by Lorraine Bracco, is one of the most important characters in The Sopranos. Her therapy sessions with Tony formed the emotional and philosophical backbone of the entire series, exploring themes of identity, violence, and self-deception.
The correct answer is Dr. Jennifer Melfi, played masterfully by Lorraine Bracco. Her fraught therapeutic relationship with Tony Soprano was central to the show’s psychological depth. The other names listed are also characters from the series, which is why this one can be tricky!
Succession, the Emmy-winning HBO drama, centers on the Roy family’s media empire. What is the name of the fictional company they control?
Correct! Waystar Royco is the sprawling media and entertainment conglomerate at the heart of Succession. Created by Jesse Armstrong, the show drew clear parallels to real-world media dynasties like the Murdochs, making the fictional empire feel disturbingly plausible.
The answer is Waystar Royco. This fictional media giant, loosely inspired by real conglomerates like News Corp, serves as the prize the Roy children are all desperately fighting over. Pierce Global Media and ATN are also referenced in the show but are separate entities.
Which HBO miniseries, based on a true story, dramatized the 1986 nuclear disaster in Soviet Ukraine and won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series in 2019?
Correct! Chernobyl, written by Craig Mazin and directed by Johan Renck, was a critical sensation that earned widespread praise for its harrowing accuracy and gripping storytelling. It held a near-perfect score on review aggregator sites and sparked renewed global interest in the disaster.
The correct answer is Chernobyl. The five-part miniseries aired in 2019 and depicted the catastrophic explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the subsequent Soviet cover-up. Band of Brothers and The Pacific are also acclaimed HBO miniseries, but they cover World War II rather than Chernobyl.
In Six Feet Under, the Fisher family runs a funeral home in which American city?
Correct! Six Feet Under, created by Alan Ball, is set in Los Angeles, California, where the Fisher family operates Fisher & Sons Funeral Home. The show ran from 2001 to 2005 and is celebrated for its unflinching exploration of death, grief, and dysfunctional family dynamics.
The answer is Los Angeles. Six Feet Under ran from 2001 to 2005 and used its LA funeral home setting to explore mortality and family in a deeply unconventional way. Its series finale is still widely considered one of the greatest and most emotionally resonant final episodes in television history.
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Season 22 takes the show in a new direction, however, literally. With King Crab populations moving further north, the fleet heads out of their familiar fishing waters for the first time in decades in search of the elusive and rare Red King Crab. And the waters are tumultuous and, well, deadly. Additionally, Sig tests out new drone tech to give them an edge, the iconic Cornelia Marie is being rebuilt, and the show pays tribute to rookie deckhand Todd Meadows, who tragically died in an accident during filming in February.
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Game Changers
The games you grew up on all have wild stories behind them
As we learned from the fantastic, Soviet-romping 2023 biopic Tetris, starring Taron Egerton, there are sometimes some incredible and often-unbelievable stories behind the fun and innocent games we love to play. And while the stories shared in the eight episodes of Discovery’s wonderful docuseries Game Changers aren’t necessarily full of Russian spies and deadly intrigue, they do trace the fascinating origins of some of gaming’s most iconic titles.
Now on HBO Max, Game Changers is catnip for video game (and board game) nerds fascinated by the litigious backstories, petty creative battles, wild rumors, and all the quirks that swirl in the open and behind the scenes of the gaming industry. Narrated by actor Pooch Hall (Ray Donovan), the series uses candid interviews with game designers, journalists, and industry experts, and some excellently nostalgic archival footage to tell the unique stories in each episode.
Broken down into eight hour-long episodes, some standouts include: Nintendo’s evolution from playing card maker to king of the consoles; the inception of Activision’s Call of Duty and how Steven Spielberg was involved; how Atari went from Pong to Pac-Man, and episodes covering World of Warcraft, the Sega Genesis, Minecraft, and more. There’s also a great episode that digs into the backstabbing behind board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, and Operation.
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Choose your own adventure this weekend
Reality TV, true crime, and gaming history all in one weekend? Not a bad mix. But if you burn through these, or just aren’t into them, you can check out last week’s choices or check out our other lists of streaming suggestions for more.
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HBO Max is a subscription-based streaming service offering content from HBO, Warner Bros., DC, and more. In 2025, the service re-branded itself as HBO Max after having previously cut “HBO” from its name.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
